Dosage (wine)

Dosage (wine) is a term used in the production of sparkling wine to refer to the addition of a mixture of sugar and wine to the product. This process is also known as liqueur d'expédition in French. The dosage is added after the second fermentation and aging, just before the wine is corked. The amount and type of dosage used can greatly affect the taste, aroma, and overall profile of the sparkling wine.

History

The practice of adding a dosage to sparkling wine has its roots in the Champagne region of France. The cool climate of this region often resulted in grapes with high acidity and low sugar levels. To balance these characteristics, winemakers began adding a dosage of sugar and wine after the second fermentation.

Process

The dosage is added to the sparkling wine after it has undergone the traditional method of second fermentation in the bottle. This process, also known as méthode champenoise, involves adding a mixture of sugar and yeast, known as the liqueur de tirage, to still wine. The bottle is then sealed and the yeast consumes the sugar, producing alcohol and carbon dioxide, which gives the wine its bubbles.

After the second fermentation and aging, the yeast is removed from the bottle in a process known as disgorgement. The dosage is then added to replace the volume lost during disgorgement and to adjust the sweetness of the wine.

Types of Dosage

The amount and type of dosage added to the sparkling wine can vary greatly, resulting in different styles of wine. These include:

• Brut Nature: No dosage is added, resulting in a very dry wine.
• Extra Brut: Very little dosage is added, resulting in a dry wine.
• Brut: A small amount of dosage is added, resulting in a slightly sweet wine.
• Extra Dry: A moderate amount of dosage is added, resulting in a medium-sweet wine.
• Demi-Sec: A large amount of dosage is added, resulting in a sweet wine.
• Doux: A very large amount of dosage is added, resulting in a very sweet wine.

See Also

• Winemaking
• Champagne (wine)
• Sparkling wine production